Manager On Test Of Two Games In Three Days

PNE boss Simon Grayson is prepared for the task of two games in three days starting on Saturday at Deepdale.

The Lilywhites host Sheffield Wednesday on New Year's Eve before travelling to face Burton Albion on Monday 2nd January.

Most Championship clubs will be facing the same task and though the gaffer knows it's a tough ask for any player to play two matches in such quick succession, he feels he has the squad to cope with the demands of the weekend.

Speaking of the impact on his team selection in the two games, the manager said: "I think it will have some impact on it with having the two games on Saturday and Monday. I'm not sure how Burton and Rotherham managed to get their game on a Thursday and get those extra two days recovery but we won't be using that as an excuse for anything on the Monday game.

"We will have an eye on the team on Saturday with one eye on what we are going to do on the Monday as well because we have to do that.

"It's very difficult to play two games in three days, some players will be able to do it but some won't so we will pick a team accordingly.

"We feel as though we have a strong squad that can cope with the demands of it and whatever team and personnel we play, we will be giving everything to get a result on both Saturday and Monday."

Having already faced the Owls at the start of the month, there will be few surprises for either side on the day and despite the defeat at Hillsborough, the manager has plenty of positives to take from that encounter.

Speaking of Carlos Carvahal's side, Grayson continued: "They are a big football club, they have got some good players. They had a really good season last year and they are trying to go one step further.

"I think when you saw them a few weeks ago you saw their qualities but we also showed them what we are capable of doing.

"They have had some great results since, a couple of home victories and ultimately going to Newcastle and winning which is a fantastic result for anybody.

"They will come here to Deepdale in good spirits but they know they will be in for a tough test because there wasn't much in the game that we lost against them recently.

"We were certainly getting back into the game when the incident happened and ultimately we have got to go out and replicate the good things that we can do as a team and stop the opposition from playing, create chances and hopefully get three points."

You can hear more from the gaffer and midfielder Paul Gallagher on PNE PlayerHD now by clicking here.